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Sri Lankan Cuisine

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Meet the Minnesota Makers

@meettheminnesotamakers

meettheminnesotamakers

*Connect with MN artists, farms, food & bev producers
*Gift guide, maker stories
*Website & Social media Coach
michelle@meettheminnesotamakers.com
I’m in awe of the dynamic energy afoot throughout I’m in awe of the dynamic energy afoot throughout the three days of last week’s inaugural @cottagefoodiecon hosted by Minnesota’s own @thecottagefoodie Massive kudos to Matt Rosen (@sergeantshortbread )and his planning team for envisioning a space for cottage producers to gather in person to share best practices, inspire each other, and dream. Entrepreneurship in the cottage production space can be isolating. Cottage Foodie Con provided a literal space filled with camaraderie, connection, and good food. There was room to ask questions, to meet someone new, and to dream about the possibilities for their businesses. I was delighted to be among the support service providers in attendance. In my two workshops and my information session, I shared best practices and guiding principles of brand stories, using social media as a marketing tool, and strong, user-friendly websites. I love being able to teach others and to build community through shared knowledge. It is the most gratifying feeling in the world when someone shares that your content is valuable and inspiring for them. I can’t wait to see what pops up on the feeds of the makers who were in attendance. I learned so much from the producers themselves and from the other presenters. Keynote speakers @stephaniesdish and Alison Smith @thecakecrusaderchronicles delivered accessible, and engaging addresses. For some, this was their first-ever conference and for many it was one of their first investments in their business outside of equipment and supplies. There were so many mental lightbulbs going off. It truly was an electric space. I applaud the conference planning committee’s decision to host the event at Hennepin Technical College. We gathered in a community learning space and had the chance to interact with and enjoy the culinary training of current students. Cottage producers are influential small and micro businesses that are active in every community. Their presence speaks to a strong local identity that values creative entrepreneurship. Plans are underway for the 2027 conference. If you’re in the cottage food space or thinking about it, join us next year. I’m looking forward to it.
I’ll be speed dating for the first time ever this I’ll be speed dating for the first time ever this week. It’s for a very good reason. I’m looking forward to serving as a resource provider at the CPG Resource Round Up, hosted by @naturally_mn on April 29th at NEON in Minneapolis! Meet the Minnesota Makers will be there ready to support early-stage food entrepreneurs working to bring their ideas to life and grow their presence in our regional market. Held at Minneapolis’ newest shared-use commercial kitchen, this event brings service providers for every step of your journey under one roof. Come prepared with your questions—we’ll be there connecting, sharing insights, and supporting the next wave of CPG founders. @meettheminnesotamakers provides workshops and individual coaching to make it simple, sustainable and straightforward for you to share your business story across digital marketing platforms. We work with you to develop website, newsletter and social media content and strategies that connect you with your customer community. Registration is still open: https://naturallynetwork.glueup.com/event/cpg-resource-round-up-2026-175357/ Join us from 11-1 for intros, speed dating, and tours of the Neon facility.
Taste Makers Class #11 was a tasty journey through Taste Makers Class #11 was a tasty journey through West Central Minnesota! Key takeaways: *Sometimes the unplanned pivot proves to be a great new direction for your business. *Working as a family provides life lessons for everyone involved. *Minnesota wine isn’t just about syrupy sweet mixed fruit anymore. *Milking robots really are a technological marvel. *Everything is better with cheese. Thank you for Julie and Chad of @rusticrootsfarmmn (Alexandria), Melanie and Vinny of @rollingforksvineyards (Glenwood), and Alise of @redheadcreamery (Brooten) for bringing your stories to life at the Farm at the Arb. We are so grateful that you came to the Arb for the class. Guests asked about soil, origin stories, sourcing, and how to support agricultural treasures like these three businesses. Thanks to @chefbethfisher and Chef Cheo Smith for your creative incorporation of the makers’ ingredients and your flawless execution of the dishes. My gratitude also to the attentive volunteers who whisk the perfect plates to the tables and magically make the dishes disappear. You help create an engaging space. Classes like the Taste Makers series at the @mn_arboretum give passionate makers and curious consumers an opportunity to learn from each other. Each class meeting (literally) has its own flavor. It’s a special space to see the class come together. Plans are underway for a fresh theme this August. Sign up for the Meet the Minnesota Makers newsletter at meettheminnesotamakers.com for early notice when registration becomes available. Eat well. Eat local!
All the cool kids with be at #cottagefoodiecon2026 All the cool kids with be at #cottagefoodiecon2026 this week. I’ll be there too. :-) I’m looking forward to joining the bakers, makers, and doers at the first ever International Cottage Foodie Con hosted by @thecottagefoodie . I’ll be there leading two workshops and one information center to make digital marketing sustainable and accessible for our cottage small business owners. In the workshops we’re going to pull out our phones and get to work. We’ll talk about my must dos from five years of experience with Meet the Minnesota Makers. Attendees will walk out of the workshop with simple ways to make their bio, their image, and their post content more likely to connect with their ideal customers. The afternoon information session sets the foundation for having a website, newsletter, and social media that work together. I ground our session in recent research from the University of Minnesota about who’s shopping locally and how you can connect with them. We’re looking to build a community that supports your work. This event extends from Thursday through Saturday with virtual attendance options available. Planning to attend? Let me know which sessions you’re most looking forward to! Find more info at https://events.ringcentral.com/events/cottage-foodie-con-2026#schedule
Know your Neighbors. It’s always shop local month Know your Neighbors. It’s always shop local month at Meet the Minnesota Makers. Our Shop Local month series introduces the real makers, growers and doers from our “Shop Minnesota” guide and makers directory. These are just some of the small business owners who make Minnesota an amazing place to be. 🍷Who: Joe and Melanie Cihlar of Rolling Forks Vineyard 💚Where: Glenwood, MN 🍇What: Family-owned Vineyard and Winery bottling dry and sweet wines made from Minnesota-grown cold-climate grapes *Restaurant with pizzas, sandwiches and salads made with local ingredients *Easy day trip from St Cloud or the Twin Cities to enjoy the patio, meet the farmers who grow your grapes, and browse the on site store *U of M research on cold climate-grapes in action with several varieties on the rolling hills that make up the Rolling Forks vineyard *A fresh take on what it means to be a Minnesota winemaker. There’s good reasons why Rolling Forks is winning international awards 🚗How You Get Involved: Visit https://rollingforksvineyards.com to explore their current vintages and find a location near you to give them a try. (Not finding Rolling Forks on the shelf—please request—this is a great way to let area suppliers know that you’re interested in local brand.) *Follow the Rolling Forks blog for wine industry news. *Explore the Rolling Forks wine club. Think of it as a CSA for grapes to glass. *Follow @rollingforksvineyards for upcoming events *Learn about the Cihlar’s farming pivot into grapes at https://meettheminnesotamakers.com/from-vine-to-glass-rolling-forks-vineyard-award-winning-minnesota-wines *Visit meettheminnesotamakers.com and follow @meettheminnesotamakers to discover small business owners building community through their everyday missions. 💙Meet the Minnesota Makers is a news site that connects you to the local food, farms, artists and artisans that make Minnesota thrive. 💕We are Minnesota strong.
Know Your Neighbors… It’s always shop local month Know Your Neighbors… It’s always shop local month at Meet the Minnesota Makers. These are the real makers, growers and doers from our “Shop Minnesota” guide and makers directory— just some of the small business owners who make Minnesota an amazing place to be. Who: Alise and Lucas Sjostrom of @redheadcreamery Where: Brooten What: Farmstead artisan cheese and whey spirits What: Award-winning artisanal cheese produced from on site Jer-Lindy Farms milk *Foodie destination and community gathering space with a cheese shop, restaurant, and bar overlooking a pond in Central Minnesota *Technology innovation with on-demand milking for the herd thanks to robots that are available 24/7—whenever the cow is in the mood *Multigenerational family-run business with a team of local employees that produce 14 different cheeses, hold multiple festivals, offer farm tours, and distill whey-based spirits (derived from the cheesemaking process!) How You Get Involved: Save your seat for the Alexandria Road Trip Taste Makers Class on Saturday, April 18 at the MN Landscape Arboretum to sample and sip signature products and hear their story (Link in bio) *Visit https://redheadcreamery.com to place an order for shipping or delivery, reserve a ticket for a weekend farm tour, or mark your calendar for CurdFest June 2026. *Look for Redhead Creamery Cheese at Kowalski’s, Lund & Byerly’s, the coops, and other specialty food stores. *Plan your visit. Leave yourself time to marvel at the milking robots, browse the store, and sample their signature cheese curds (which are all gluten free!). *Learn about the journey from dairy farm to cheese paradise at: https://meettheminnesotamakers.com/diversely-delicious-cheese-and-spirits-redhead-creamerys-a-destination *Follow @redheadcreamery to see what’s popping up at the farmstead. *Visit meettheminnesotamakers.com and follow @meettheminnesotamakers to discover small business owners building community through their everyday missions. Meet the Minnesota Makers is a news site that connects you to the local food, farms, artists and artisans that make Minnesota thrive. We are Minnesota strong.
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